Introduction:

Running is a great way to stay fit and healthy, but keeping track of your routes and progress can be a challenge. Luckily, Google Maps offers various features to help you track your running routes. In this article, we’ll explore three ways you can use Google Maps to enhance your running experience.

1. Creating and Saving Custom Routes:

One of the most useful features that Google Maps offers is the ability to create and save custom running routes. This allows you to plan out your running path beforehand, ensuring that you know exactly where you are going and how far you will be running. Follow these steps to create your own custom route:

a. Open Google Maps on your computer or smartphone.

b. Click on the menu icon located in the top left corner and select “Your Places.”

c. Under “Your Places,” click on the “Maps” tab.

d. Select “Create Map” at the bottom of the page.

e. Add a title and description for your new running route.

f. Start plotting your route by clicking on the map to add points along the desired path.

g. When completed, click “Save” to store your new custom route.

2. Measuring Distance and Elevation:

Google Maps also enables you to measure the distance and elevation of your runs easily so that you can track essential metrics like mileage and elevation gain during your workouts:

a. Open Google Maps on your computer (this feature is currently not available on smartphones).

b. Right-click the starting point of your run.

c. Click “Measure Distance” from the context menu.

d. Left-click each point along your path, continuing until you reach the finish line.

e. The total distance will be displayed in miles or kilometers at the bottom right corner.

To measure elevation along the route, use the third-party website called “Gmap Pedometer,” which uses Google Maps API to add elevation data.

3. Sharing Routes with Friends or Running Groups:

Another great feature of Google Maps is the ability to share custom routes with friends or running groups. This is particularly useful if you want to coordinate a group run or share exciting new tracks with others.

a. From your custom route, click the “Share” button located at the top right corner.

b. Choose your preferred sharing method: copy the link, embed the map on a website, or send it through email or social media platforms.

c. Your friends will now be able to view and follow your custom running route.

Conclusion:

Google Maps offers an array of features to help runners track routes and measure distances, elevations, and even share running paths with other enthusiasts. By taking advantage of these tools, you can stay motivated while ensuring that your runs stay fun and engaging. So lace up those running shoes and start exploring new routes using Google Maps today!